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Illuminating optical system and projector device

a technology of projector device and illumination optical system, which is applied in the direction of instruments, lighting and heating equipment, non-electric lighting, etc., can solve the problem of uneven illumination

Active Publication Date: 2012-08-23
NIKON CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to an illuminating optical system that reduces uneven illumination caused by an image of a split pattern on the light emitting surface of a light source. The system includes a light source with a divided pattern, an illumination-target member, and an optical member that condenses the light from the light source and radiates it towards the illumination-target member. The optical member is designed to create an outline of the illuminated area that matches the shape of the light source's divided pattern. By doing so, the system can effectively reduce uneven illumination caused by the image of the split pattern on the light emitting surface.

Problems solved by technology

There is an issue yet to be effectively addressed in the related art in that if the light source includes a light emitting surface divided into a plurality of areas along a specific direction, an image patterned exactly as the light emitting surface is divided into the plurality of areas will be formed at an illumination-target member to result in uneven illumination.

Method used

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  • Illuminating optical system and projector device
  • Illuminating optical system and projector device
  • Illuminating optical system and projector device

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first embodiment

[0031]The following is a description of an embodiment of the present invention, given in reference to drawings. It is to be noted that the drawings to be referred to in the following description each include arrows indicating an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis which are to be used as a universal reference. FIG. 1 shows the illuminating optical system in a projector device achieved in the first embodiment in a sectional view taken of an x-y plane. A projector device 1 includes a light source 10, an illuminating optical system 20, a display element 40 and a projection optical system 50. The light source 10, constituted with a high-luminance LED or the like, emits illuminating light. The illuminating optical system 20 radiates the illuminating light output from the light source 10 toward the display element 40, which is a reflection-type display element such as an LCOS (a reflective liquid crystal display panel manufactured by forming a liquid crystal over a silicon substrate). An image ...

second embodiment

[0065]FIG. 9 shows the illuminating optical system of a projector device achieved in the second embodiment of the present invention in a sectional view of an x-y plane. It is to be noted that in the following description, members fulfilling functions equivalent to those in the projector device 1 achieved in the first embodiment are notated with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment so as to preclude the necessity for a repeated explanation thereof.

[0066]The projector device 2 in this embodiment includes a light source 100 shown in FIG. 9, instead of the light source 10 shown in FIG. 1. The light source 100 is configured with a red-color LED 110 that emits red light, a green-color LED 120 that emits green light, a blue-color LED 130 that emits blue light and a cross dichroic prism 140 that combines the light in the three colors. As is the light source 10 in the first embodiment, the red-color LED 110 is constituted with a light emitting portion 110a and a cover...

third embodiment

[0069]FIG. 10 shows the illuminating optical system of a projector device achieved in the third embodiment of the present invention in a sectional view taken of an x-y plane. An illuminating optical system 230 of the projector device achieved in the embodiment includes a light source unit 231 that emits light in various colors, i.e., red light, green light and blue light, through time division, a total reflection prism 232, a protective member 233, a micro-mirror device 234 and a projection lens 235.

[0070]The light source unit 231 includes three high-luminance LEDs 231R, 231G and 231B which are turned on in time series, condenser lenses 238, each of which condenses light fluxes emitted from one of the high-luminance LEDs and outputs the condensed light fluxes as a substantially parallel light flux and a cross-dichroic prism 239 that directs the substantially parallel light flux toward the total reflection prism 232. The high-luminance LED 231R is a red-color LED that emits red light...

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PUM

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Abstract

An illuminating optical system includes: a substantially rectangular-shaped light source that includes a light emitting surface with a split pattern formed thereat by a splitting line, the splitting line extending along a predetermined direction and splitting the light emitting surface into a plurality of separate areas; an illumination-target member that includes a rectangular radiation-target area; and an optical member in that condenses light departing the light emitting surface and radiates the condensed light toward the radiation-target area, wherein: an extent of uneven illumination attributable to an image of the split pattern at the light emitting surface of the light source, formed at the illumination-target member, is reduced.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0001]The disclosures of the following priority applications are herein incorporated by reference:[0002]Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-032291 filed Feb. 17, 2011[0003]Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-003059 filed Jan. 11, 2012BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates to an illuminating optical system and a projector device.[0006]2. Description of Related Art[0007]An image may be displayed on a screen or the like by a projector device known in the related art that radiates light originating from an illuminating optical system equipped with a light source constituted with a light emitting diode (LED) or the like onto a display element such as a reflective liquid crystal element (LCOS) or a micro-mirror device. For instance, Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2009-217060 teaches a projector device that condenses light from a light source through a lens with a free curved surface so as to resh...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G03B21/20F21V5/04F21V9/14F21V7/00
CPCG02B27/0983G02B27/1033G02B27/149G02B27/285G03B21/2033G02B19/0061G03B33/12H04N9/3111H04N9/3152H04N9/3167G02B19/0014G03B21/208
Inventor GOTO, TAKAO
Owner NIKON CORP